Dead Man’s Ransom

Dead Man’s Ransom (1984) Ellis Peters

Set in England and Wales in 1141.

The civil war continues to tear through England, reaching back towards Shrewsbury, where Hugh and the local sheriff are sent off to fight against the Earls of Chester and Lincoln as well as a marauder from Wales.

When the sheriff is taken, they are lucky to discover that a young man taken during an attempted raid on the nunnery of Godric’s Ford.

From an earlier book, we again meet one of the women of the nunnery, and she’s even more lively and lovely than she was earlier.

“She may have taken vows of chastity, and what she swears she’ll keep. But she has not sworn never to take delight in the looks and converse and company of a proper man. I doubt they’ll ever bring her to consent to that, she’d think it a waste and a shame so to throw God’s good gifts in his teeth.”

To have Mother Mariana’s faith in divine protection is good, but even better if backed by the practical assistance heaven has a right to expect from sensible mortals.

Sister Magdalen I especially like because, like Brother Cadfael, she is no longer young (although to Cadfeal she still retains her beauty, which he appreciates in a brotherly way) but she remains strong and powerful–it’s lovely to have an older woman play such a strong part, since it happens so infrequently.

I very much also enjoyed the mystery, and how it was sorted out. Brother Cadfeal believes in justice, but he continues to see justice perhaps in a different manner from the law.
Rating: 9/10

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